Professional Dimensions, a Milwaukee membership organization that promotes the professional and personal growth of women, will recognize Wendy Baumann, president and chief visionary officer of the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation and Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, as its 2014 Professional Dimensions Sacagawea Award winners.
The awards, along with artwork designed by northern Wisconsin artist Julie Crabtree, will be presented at a dinner Tuesday, March 18, at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Reservations for the event are open to the public and available at www.professionaldimensions.org.
“These two award winners demonstrate the power of women leading agencies and organizations that are paving the way for economic and social success in the Milwaukee area and throughout the state,” said Linda McCabe, president of Incentive Gallery and chair of the Sacagawea event. The award is named after Sacagawea, the only woman on the Lewis and Clark expedition, who distinguished herself throughout her life with her foresight, leadership, intelligence, common sense and adaptability.
Baumann is seen as an outstanding economic driver who has earned the respect of lenders, local and national policy makers and the economic development community. Under her leadership, WWBIC, a statewide agency serving more than 50,000 people, has directly financed more than 1,800 businesses, lent more than $29 million to small business owners and created more than 6,000 jobs.
Pitre is regarded as one of the most prominent authorities and compassionate voices on family violence issues. Moreover, it is through her leadership that Milwaukee has what will become a national model for a one-stop center where family violence is addressed in a comprehensive, holistic and effective manner. Sojourner Family Peace Center is a dream made a reality through her strategic collaborations with Children’s Hospital, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, the Milwaukee Police Department and other community entities. The center provides medical, legal, security, education, substance abuse, housing and other social resources to stabilize and restore victims of violence to healthy and productive lives.
